The system approach to successful space mission development

Conceptualizing and executing space missions calls for creative thinking co upled with careful and conservative implementation. The engineers and scien tists who design such missions must master a "wide dynamic range" of techni ques, from brainstorming to design reviews. Operating in space has never be en easy, and the "better, faster, cheaper" mandate imposed by today's overc onstrained budgets has created new complications. This article presents the Laboratory's philosophy for meeting these challenges.